Grindstone Inks North American Deal for 'The Liability' With Tim Roth

LONDON – Craig Viveiros' The Liability starring Tim Roth as a veteran hitman and Jack O'Connell as his willing apprentice has inked distribution deals for North America, the U.K. and Japan.

our editor recommends

Cannes 2012: Tim Roth Joins Jennifer Lynch's 'A Fall From Grace'

Cannes 2012: Tim Roth to Head Un Certain Regard Jury

U.K. sales and finance banner AV Pictures signed deal memos with Grindstone Entertainment Group for North America where the film will be released by Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Revolver Entertainment for the U.K. and Nikkatsu Corporation for Japan.

The movie unspooled during last month's Marche du Film in Cannes and reported brisk business following the screening for buyers.

The road-trip thriller is in the final stages of post-production and details the story of a veteran assassin dreaming of retirement who is paired with an eager young driver on a mission to carry out a long-distance ‘hit’ job. 

Talulah Riley (St Trinians 1 & 2, Pride & Prejudice) plays an enigmatic stranger who enters the duo's lives and Peter Mullan (War Horse) turns out as the villainous stepfather of the young pretender.

Pre-sales on the film were previously concluded for Germany (Koch Media), Australia/NZ (Vendetta Pictures), Brazil (PlayArte) and CIS/Baltic States (New Entertainment Partners).

Stan Wertlieb of Grindstone described the film as "a powerful hitman thriller in the vein of Sexy Beast. "Director Craig Viveiros takes the audience on a journey into a nightmarish world of murder, sex trafficking, and revenge," Wertlieb said.

Viveiros (Ghosted) directs from a screenplay by John Wrathall.

The project is produced by Richard Johns (Truth Or Dare, Shadow of the Vampire, Killing Time) and Rupert Jermyn (Truth Or Dare).